Sri Narasimha Mantra (Ugram Viram Mahavishnum): Text, Meaning & Benefits
Sri Narasimha Mantra - Sanskrit Text
ॐ उग्रं वीरं महाविष्णुं
ज्वलन्तं सर्वतोमुखम् ।
नृसिंहं भीषणं भद्रं
मृत्युमृत्युं नमाम्यहम् ॥
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
oṃ ugraṃ vīraṃ mahā-viṣṇuṃ
jvalantaṃ sarvato-mukham,
nṛsiṃhaṃ bhīṣaṇaṃ bhadraṃ
mṛtyu-mṛtyuṃ namāmyaham.
Meaning
I bow to the fierce and valiant Maha-Vishnu, blazing with radiance, his faces turned in every direction; to Narasimha - the man-lion - terrifying yet supremely auspicious, the very Death of Death itself. The verse holds a profound paradox: the form that is most frightening to evil (bhīṣaṇa) is the most protective and benevolent (bhadra) to the devotee, and the lord who appears as death to the wicked is the death of death - the conqueror of mortality - for those who take refuge in him.
About this Mantra
This single, jewel-like verse is the most famous of all Narasimha mantras and is celebrated as the Ugra-Narasimha shloka. Narasimha is the fourth avatara of Vishnu, who burst from a pillar in his half-man, half-lion form to slay the demon-king Hiranyakashipu and protect his devotee Prahlada. The mantra appears in the Narasimha Kavacham and is chanted independently as a potent shield. Its association with the “Death of Death” (mṛtyu-mṛtyu) makes it one of the supreme protective invocations in the Vaishnava tradition.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
This mantra is chanted above all for fearlessness and protection. Devotees recite it to ward off enemies, black magic, accidents, sudden danger, and the fear of death. It is said to dispel nightmares, anxiety, and negative forces, and to surround the chanter with a fierce, guardian energy. Because Narasimha defends the surrendered soul without hesitation, the verse is a favourite for those facing crisis, litigation, hostility, or unseen obstacles. Spiritually, it burns away inner demons of ego and fear, clearing the path of devotion.
Astrological Relevance
Narasimha is the great destroyer of malefic influences, making this mantra a powerful remedy for afflictions of the cruel grahas - particularly Rahu (sudden upheavals, hidden enemies, black magic), Ketu (mysterious troubles), Mars (Mangal - accidents, conflict, surgery), and a harsh Saturn (Shani - chronic adversity, sade-sati). As “Mrityu-mrityu,” the verse is invoked against life-threatening eighth-house and Maraka afflictions and is paired with longevity remedies. Those in a difficult Rahu, Ketu, Mars, or Saturn dasha, or facing 6th-8th-12th house troubles, chant it for a protective shield. Narasimha is also worshipped to remove the doshas of the ascendant and the Moon.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
Bathe and sit before an image of Lord Narasimha, ideally facing east, with a lamp of ghee or sesame oil. Chant the verse with firm, steady devotion 11, 21, or 108 times on a tulsi or rudraksha mala. Many devotees chant it at night for protection while sleeping, or before undertaking a risky journey or facing a confrontation. A fearless, surrendered attitude is the key to its power.
Best Day & Time
Saturday and the Swati nakshatra are traditionally linked to Narasimha worship, and Narasimha Jayanti (the 14th day of the bright fortnight of Vaishakha, at twilight) is the most sacred occasion. The pradosha twilight hour - recalling the dusk in which Narasimha appeared - is especially powerful for this mantra.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ugra Narasimha mantra used for?
It is chanted primarily for protection and fearlessness - against enemies, black magic, accidents, sudden danger, and the fear of death - and to dispel anxiety and negative energies.
Why is Narasimha called the “Death of Death”?
“Mrityu-mrityu” means the death of death itself: for the devotee who surrenders, Narasimha conquers mortality and fear, while appearing as death only to the wicked.
When did Lord Narasimha appear?
He appeared at twilight, neither day nor night, emerging from a pillar to slay the demon Hiranyakashipu and protect the child-devotee Prahlada - which is why dusk is especially sacred to him.
The man-lion's roar as refuge - Narasimha's mantra in sadhana and Jyotish
Lord Narasimha - the half-human, half-lion avatara who broke every rule of the expected to protect the child-devotee Prahlada - embodies the principle that divine grace is not bound by conventional limits of time, space, or form. The Ugra Narasimha mantra captures this quality with striking force: its epithets deliberately stack the fearsome, the heroic, the cosmic, and the luminous on top of each other to evoke a presence whose protective power exceeds any worldly threat. Devotees who chant this mantra do so not in a mood of serene contemplation but in one of urgent appeal; it is the prayer of someone who genuinely needs protection and trusts completely in Narasimha's capacity to provide it. The dual emotional register of this mantra is unique in the Vaishnava tradition: the same fierce form that terrifies the demonic is experienced by the surrendered devotee as warmth, love, and absolute safety.
In the Jyotish tradition, this mantra is particularly recommended during periods when Rahu, Mars, or Saturn are causing acute difficulty - times associated with fear, hidden adversaries, court cases, or sudden loss of security. Practitioners traditionally chant it in the early morning hours before dawn, which is considered Narasimha's own sacred time, or on Chaturdashi tithi and Narasimha Jayanti. Regular engagement with this mantra is said to awaken in the practitioner something of Narasimha's own fearlessness - the inner steadiness of one who knows themselves to be genuinely held and protected, whatever the outer circumstances may appear to be.